Hinge connection for umbrella top ribs and structures



Feb. 20, 1962 w. UTHEMANN 3,021,854 HINGE CONNECTION FOR UMBRELLA TOP RIBS AND STRUCTURES Filed March 23 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR 5y Mbthem mn 1962 w. UTHEMANN 3,021,854

HINGE CONNECTION FOR UMBRELLA TOP RIBS AND STRUCTURES Filed March 23. 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR y wmhbmainfl States This invention relates to a hinge connection for the roof bars of umbrellas, sunshade umbrellas or the like.

In the known hinge connections, especially in the hinges between the roof bar and the strut of an umbrella, is provided a hinge pin. This hinge pin is inserted into a bore of the strut while the ends of the pin engage bores of the hinge sleeve. In some hinges, the pin serving as a hinge is inserted only into a bore of the strut and the flanged lugs of the hinge sleeve enclose like a cap on both sides the projecting ends of the pin. In any case, it is necessary to provide the flattened end of the strut with a bore for guiding the hinge pin therein.

There are further known hinge connections in which the pin serving as a hinge is missing and in which the lugs of the hinge sleeve engage the bore in the flattened end of the strut by means of a local bulge. But also in this case is necessary the provision of a bore for the hinge connection.

The invention has for its object a hinge connection in which the provision of a bore or the insertion of a pin is dispensed with. Its essential feature consists in that the hinge pin is formed by a swaging action at the flattened end of the strut and that the oppositely projecting pins of the end of the strut are shaped like a cylinder or a hemisphere. The pins have to be formed in such a mannor that the lugs of the hinge sleeve enclose the pins at both sides and allow a swinging movement.

In this manner there is obtained a pin hinge connection without a bore and such a construction is advantageous in many respects. The provision of a bore means an additional working operation which is now obviated. Instead of inserting the pin into a bore, the end of the strut is now provided with an integral pin. By this method, the working operation of fixing the pin into a bore is dispensed with and a more eflective hinge connection is obtained. Flattening of the end of the strut and swaging of the pivot pins may be efiected in simple working operations.

The arrangement according to the invention may be provided at any profile of the strut which may be a bar with a U-shaped cross-section or a solid bar.

The hinge with the flattened ends of the ribs and the pins according to the invention may be formed in such a manner that the ends of the pins are journaled directly in the U-shaped body of the top rib and the side edges of the U-shaped body enclose the ends of the pins. There is also provided a sleeve, the flanges of which project above the edge of the top rib, the hinge connection being efiected with the sleeve enclosing the ends of the pin. Such a sleeve may consist of a rolled body which completely encloses the top rib by means of projecting transverse ribs. The end parts ofthe sleeve also serve as a guide -for the flattened end of the strut.

In the drawings several embodiments of the invention are illustrated and in which:

FIGS. 1 and 2 show an umbrella strut according to the invention in side view and plan view,

FIGS. 3 and 4 show a side view and a cross-section of the hinge connection of the strut with a top rib,

FIGS. 5 and 6 show a side view and a plan view of the hinge connection according to the invention with the strut and the top rib formed as a solid bar,

atent ice 2 7 FIGS. 7 and 8 show a side view and plan view of a further embodiment,

FIG. 9is a cross-section on the line IX-IX of FIG. 7,

' FIG. 12.

The umbrella strut 1 in FIGS. 1 and 2 has theusual U-shaped cross-section. The ends 2 and 3 of the strut are flattened. The end 2 is provided at both sides of the flattened portion with pivot pins 4. I'lie end 2 of the strut'constitutes the hinge end thereof as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 and said end is preferably swaged or otherwise manipulated to provide the oppositely directed pivot pins 4- that form integral parts of the end 2 and these pins may assume different configurations, such as cylindrical or part spherical as shown in FIG. 13.

To obtain the hinge connection between the strut 1 and the U-shaped top rib 5, the strut end2 carrying the pins 4 are placed in the top rib 5 and a hinge sleeve 6 of U-shape is placed over the top rib 5 in line with the strut 1 and has its edges turned over as at 7 as shown in FIGS. 3 by dotted lines and in 4 at opposite sides of the pins 4, the turned edges defining cavities or sockets engaging and holding the pins 4 to thereby provide the hinged connection. With the'sleeve 'bindingly engaging the top rib, the hinged end 2 of the strut 1 is held nontranslatab-le relative to the top rib 5 but does possess freely hinged movements relative thereto.

The embodiment of the invention according to FIGS. 5 and 6 shows a top rib 8 and a strut 9, both of whichare formed as solid bars or ribs. The top rib 8 may have, for example, a round cross-section or a rectangular cross-section and the strut 9 may be similarly formed. The flattened end 13 of the strut 9 is provided with oppositely directed pivot pins 14 formed by shaping or upsetting the end 13. The hinge sleeve 15 surrounds the top rib 8 and the projecting lugs 16 of this sleeve pivotally support the pivot pins 14 of the strut 9 like a hinged bearing by receiving the pivot pins 14 in sockets or bores thereof.

It is of no importance in the development of the hinge end of the strut whether or not the shaped pivot pins project beyond the diameter of the strut. It is desirable to use the flattened end 13 as a guide for the swinging strut as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. For solid ribs and struts 9, as shown in FIGS. 7 to 11, there is employed a hinge sleeve 17. This type of sleeve as shown in FIGS. 9 to 11 is provided with transverse ribs 18. The thick ness of the middle part 19 of the sleeve 17 is preferably smaller than that of the end parts 20 as shown in FIG. 11. Such a sleeve encloses the solid top rib 8 similar to a collar. The pivot pins 14 of the strut 9 are journaled in mating bores or sockets 21 in the ends 20 of the sleeve. When the sleeve 12 is in its encircling position with respect to the top rib 8, the transverse ribs 18 contact each other as shown in FIG. 9 with the pivot pin receiving bores or sockets 21 aligned with each other while the end portions 20' of the sleeve constitute a guide for the flattened end 13 of the strut.

As shown in FIG. 12, instead or bores or sockets 21, as in FIGS. 10 and 11, there are provided end cavities or sockets 22 to receive the pivot pins 14 as shown in FIG. 14.

It is to be noted that throughout the specification various terminology has been employed for reciting the portions of the structure receiving the pivot pins. These may be defined generally as pivot pin receiving portions.

From the above detailed description ofthe invention, it is believed that the construction and operation of the several forms thereof will at once be apparent, it being noted that the ends of the umbrella struts are flattened and otherwise employed to provide integral oppositely directed pivot pins that may be received between the side walls of a U-shaped rib or between theside flanges of a collar or sleeve mounted on a top rib.

What is claimed is:

l. A hinge connection for umbrellas comprising a top rib and strut, said strut having a flattened end with transversely aligned hinge pin portions extending from opposite faces thereof; and a hinge plate circurnposed about and clampingly engaging an intermediate portion of said top rib; said hinge plate having a sleeve portion defined in part by a pairv of'opposed ribs and with said sleeve portion extending substantially completely around said top riband a pair of spaced parallel plate portions extending the full length of said sleeve portion and projecting therefrom along said opposed ribs, said plate portions receiving said flattened end therebetween; and said parallel plate portions having opposed hinge pin receiving portions receiving said hinge pin portions to pivotally mount said strut on said top rib.

2. A hinge plate for connecting an umbrella strut to a top rib, said hinge plate comprising an elongated bendable plate having a thin intermediate portion and thickened end portions, and transverse ribs extending across said plate intermediate said thin intermediate portion and said thickened end portions, said transverse ribs having opposed curved faces and together with said intermediate portion beingadapted to form a top rib encircling sleeve, and said thickened end portions having pin receiving POT: tions adjacent said ribs.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 599,623 Moulton Feb. 22, 1898 634,018 McGee Oct. 3, 1898 732,781 Reininger July 7, 1903 1,970,813 Norris et a1 Aug. 21, 1934 

